April 7, 2011

Asiadog has been a Brooklyn Flea staple for a while now, but as of today, it has a brick-and-mortar location (albeit a wee one) in Nolita. Given our love of all things Asian and most things hot-dog-related, we had to swing by and grab lunch on its opening day. We were pleased to see old favorites on the menu and a new addition: the kimchi pancake corndog.

The Kenmare shop is tiny, with only two cozy tables, and really functions best as a take-out spot unless you drop by during off hours. The decor falls much in the vein of Momofuku with its light wood banquettes and wood paneling on the walls. Asian-inspired hot dogs are available in beef, chicken, veggie (all $4.50), and organic beef ($5.50), and a bulgogi burger and pork sandwich are available, too. But obviously we had to get the corndog ($6) because A) it’s a new item and B) it’s a corndog.

The outer casing in fact tastes just like a kimchi pajun and encased a juicy beef hot dog. While not totally grease-free, it wasn’t heavy or ultra oily, and made for good snacking (you might want two if you’re seeking a proper lunch). The accompanying sesame-flecked chile sauce was a great accompaniment with just the right amount of heat. We also got a side of Korean yam fries ($3), which had a lovely flavor that was less sweet than a regular sweet potato but still possessed some crunch. It’s a little intense to eat every day, but when you’ve got a craving for Asian county-fair food, well, Asiadog has you covered.